Top Panorama reporter quits over dumbing down

[Teddy Bear]

Top Panorama reporter quits over dumbing down
Last updated at 23:43pm on 11th December 2006

Panorama's best-known investigative reporter has quit amid claims the programme is dumbing down.
John Ware, who has been on the current affairs show for 20 years, is leaving ahead of a relaunch next year

BBC bosses are planning to cut the programme to 30 minutes, move it to a prime time slot from late on Sunday evenings and make it more populist and topical.

Executives have suggested that Panorama, which has a history of taking the government and powerful organisations to task, could cover subjects such as the wives and girlfriends of the England football team.

This has led to accusations that BBC chiefs are abandoning both the Corporation's public service remit and Panorama's distinguished heritage in a bid to chase ratings and match the success of ITV's Tonight with Trevor McDonald.

Other senior Panorama journalists are believed to be considering their positions amid rumours that bosses are considering a clear- out of veterans resisting the new approach.

Ware, who has worked on Panorama since 1986, won an award for his report on the Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland, which saw him name suspects linked to the horrific attack. He also famously turned the spotlight on his own organisation in a hard-hitting and critically-acclaimed report on the David Kelly affair.

Although Ware refused to comment on his move, which will see him remain at the BBC on other programmes, it is being clearly interpreted as a protest at the new direction.


A source said: "He is just not comfortable with the new agenda of the programme. He has heard the direction they are taking the show and thought 'I don't want to do this'. He does not want to get into the whole ratings battle."

A BBC spokesman said last night: "Panorama relaunches in January. John is currently working until March on a major BBC series on transport which was planned before Panorama's move to prime time was announced.

"After that, like other BBC current affairs reporters, he has the opportunity to work on a variety of projects across the department, including Panorama. We have every expectation that he will be working on Panorama in the future."